Flexible nozzle attachment



y 1964 J. B. COLEMAN 3,131,853

FLEXIBLE NOZZLE ATTACHMENT Filed April 24, 1963 f5 3? INI ENTOR. JOS/iB. C0JZVV United States Patent 3 Claims. (Cl. 239277) This inventionrelates to cleaning devices, and more particularly to a combinationcleaning attachment for use in kitchen sinks.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cleaning toolassembly which can be readily installed on all types of sink faucets forperforming various cleaning tasks in a simple and convenient manner.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning toolhaving a set of various adapters and attachments which can beselectively used for performing various cleaning tasks around the home.

Still an additional object of the present invention is to provide anovel duct piece for a kitchen cleaning tool which will provide for thecareful control of water flow through the various adapters usabletherewith.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of theinvention will become apparent from a study of the followingspecification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing,wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a cleaning tool made in accordancewith the present invention in actual use;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of various cleaning attachments and mainduct piece forming the main components of the present invention;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational View, with partsbroken away, of a duct piece forming a part of the present invention;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view taken alongline 4-4 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary end perspective view of certainparts of the duct piece shown in FIG- URE 3.

Referring now to the drawing, a cleaning tool made in accordance withthe present invention is shown to include a main duct piece having apair of coupling members 11, 1'2 threadedly connected together at oneend. Mounted upon one of the coupling elements 11 is a length 14 offlexible hose for connection to a faucet 15. Connected to the other oneof the coupling elements 12 is an extended length of flexible tubing 16.Mounted Within the interior of the threadedly connected couplingelements 11, 12, is a flow control plate 18 having a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced apart ports 2% through which Water from theflexible hose '14 is distributed through the interior of the conduit 16.The central portion of the plate 18 has an internally threaded aperture22 which is selectively closed by a threaded plug 24. When the plug 24is removed, water will flow from the hose 14 through the opening 22 andinto a centrally mounted conduit 28 that is mounted upon an annularflange 26 of the control plate 18, coaxially with the opening 22 and theouter conduit 16.

The free end of the inner conduit 28 is constricted toward a tube-likeprotuberance 30 that terminates short of the outermost end of the outerconduit 16.

A special purpose cleaning adapter 32 having a fan shaped nozzle 34,includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart ports 36 throughwhich water may be dispensed when the apertures 40 of the control plate38 are moved into alignment therewith by adjustment of the manuallycontrolled handle 42. Thus, with adapter 32 mounted upon the end of theouter conduit 16, water from both the outer conduit 16 and the interiorof the tube 30 will be supplied to the interior of the fan shapedhousing and dispensed outwardly through the ports 36 at a rate of speedand in a quantity determined by the position of the adjustment plate 38.

A plurality of plug-like adapters 44 are also provided, each having alongitudinal bore 46, through which water under pressure from the tube30 is forced outwardly to association with bristles of any desireddegree of stifmess. Wire type bristles 48 are preferably used fordiificult to clean pots and pans, whereas brush-like bristles 50 may beused for cleaning dishes and only slightly soiled articles. Since theplugs 44 virtually close the outer free end of the outer conduit 16,water flow through the longitudinal bores 46 thereof is suppliedprimarily from the tube 39 which projects directly into suchlongitudinal bore 46. It is therefore necessary to remove the closureplug 24 from the control plate 18 when using these brush type adapters.-

It will now be recognized that an extremely efiicient and effectivecleaning device has been provided for performing various types ofcleaning tasks around the home, in a simple and convenient manner.

While this invention has been described with particular reference to theconstruction shown in the drawing, it is to be understood that such isnot to be construed as imparting limitations upon the invention, whichis best defined by the claims appended hereto.

Having thus described my' invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent:

1. A cleaning tool comprising, in combination, a duct piece, flexiblecoupling means securing one end of said duct piece'to a water source, aspecial purpose cleaning adapter detachably secured upon the oppositeend of said duct piece, flow control means carried by said duct piecelimiting flow between said source and said adapter, said duct piececomprising an outer conduit and an inner conduit, said flow controlmeans being mounted within said outer conduit, said inner conduitmounted upon a central portion of said flow control means, water beingsupplied irom said water source to the interior of each of said innerand outer conduits, said inner and outer conduits delivering fluid tosaid special pinpose cleaning adapter secured upon the opposite end ofsaid duct piece, said flexible coupling means comprising a short lengthof flexible hose having one end connected to said outer conduit, and theopposite end of said flexible hose being mounted upon a water faucet.

2. A cleaning tool as set forth in claim 1, wherein said flow controlmeans comprises a plate having a plurality of circumferential ly spacedapart apertures mounted Within and substantially filling the interior ofone end of said outer conduit, and the central portion of said flowcontrol plate having an internally threaded aperture communicating withthe interior of said inner conduit, and a removable plug threadedlymounted within said central aperture of said flow control platecontrolling flow of water from said flexible coupling through theinterior of said inner conduit.

3. A cleaning tool as set forth in claim 2, wherein said special purposecleaning adapter comprises a substantially fan shaped housing having asleeve at one end for receiving the outer free end of said outer conduittherewithin, and the opposite end of said fan shaped housing having aplurality of circumferentially spaced apart ports, and a manuallyadjustable apertured plate slidably carried by said fan shaped housingselectively adjusting the size of the openings through said ports.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,353,495 Roberts Sept. 21, 1920 2,314,071 Bucknell et al Mar. 16, 19432,575,222 Isenberg Nov. 13, 1951

1. A CLEANING TOOL COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A DUCT PIECE, FLEXIBLECOUPLING MEANS SECURING ONE END OF SAID DUCT PIECE TO A WATER SOURCE, ASPECIAL PURPOSE CLEANING ADAPTER DETACHABLY SECURED UPON THE OPPOSITEEND OF SAID DUCT PIECE, FLOW CONTROL MEANS CARRIED BY SAID DUCT PIECELIMITING FLOW BETWEEN SAID SOURCE AND SAID ADAPTER, SAID DUCT PIECECOMPRISING AN OUTER CONDUIT AND AN INNER CONDUIT, SAID FLOW CONTROLMEANS BEING MOUNTED WITHIN SAID OUTER CONDUIT, SAID INNER CONDUITMOUNTED UPON A CENTRAL PORTION OF SAID FLOW CONTROL MEANS, WATER BEINGSUPPLIED FROM SAID WATER SOURCE TO THE INTERIOR OF EACH OF SAID INNERAND OUTER CONDUITS, SAID INNER AND OUTER CONDUITS DELIVERING FLUID TOSAID SPECIAL PURPOSE CLEANING ADAPTER SECURED UPON THE OPPOSITE END OFSAID DUCT PIECE, SAID FLEXIBLE COUPLING MEANS COMPRISING A SHORT LENGTHOF FLEXIBLE HOSE HAVING ONE END CONNECTED TO SAID OUTER CONDUIT, AND THEOPPOSITE END OF SAID FLEXIBLE HOSE BEING MOUNTED UPON A WATER FAUCET.